Backlinks act as endorsements, signalling to search engines that your content is valuable and relevant.
However, for backlinks to contribute to your site’s authority and rankings, they need to be indexed. If a backlink isn’t indexed, it’s like it doesn’t exist in the eyes of search engines.
Here, we’ll walk you through practical and effective strategies to ensure your backlinks get indexed, optimising their impact.
What does indexing mean?
When search engines like Google discover new content, they “index” it – storing and organising the information to display in search results. This process includes backlinks. If your backlinks aren’t indexed, they won’t contribute to your site’s SEO.
The speed and likelihood of indexing depend on factors such as the quality of the backlink, the website’s authority, and the way it’s integrated into the content.
How to get your backlinks indexed
1. Focus on high-quality backlinks
The quality of the backlinks you acquire significantly influences their indexing. Links from reputable, high-authority websites are often indexed faster and carry more SEO weight. Low-quality or spammy links, on the other hand, are less likely to be indexed and could harm your SEO efforts.
To evaluate the quality of a potential backlink, consider:
- Domain authority: Tools like Ahrefs or Moz can help assess a domain’s authority.
- Relevance: Ensure the linking site’s content aligns with your niche.
- Traffic: Backlinks from websites with substantial UK-based traffic are especially valuable.
2. Create shareable content
When your backlinks are embedded in engaging and shareable content, they are more likely to be discovered by search engine crawlers. Focus on crafting articles, infographics, or videos that readers will naturally want to share.
For example: If your business operates in the UK’s hospitality sector, a detailed guide on “Best Local Ingredients for British Cuisine” could drive shares and clicks.
3. Submit backlinks to Google Search Console
Manually submitting backlinks through Google Search Console is an effective way to expedite indexing. Use the “URL Inspection Tool” to submit the page containing your backlink. This action prompts Google to crawl the page and potentially index the link faster.
4. Leverage social media
Sharing content containing your backlinks on platforms like LinkedIn, Twitter, and Facebook can help drive traffic and encourage indexing. Social signals, while not direct ranking factors, often indicate to search engines that a link is worth crawling.
Platforms like LinkedIn often perform better for professional industries, while Instagram or Twitter might be ideal for lifestyle brands.
Related read: What Is Crawling In SEO?
5. Use internal linking
Ensure that pages with backlinks are well-integrated into your site’s internal linking structure. When search engine crawlers navigate your site, they’ll discover these pages more efficiently, increasing the likelihood of indexing the backlinks they contain.
Advanced techniques for faster backlink indexing
1. Syndicate content
Repurposing your content for syndication on reputable platforms like Medium or industry-specific forums can boost the visibility of your backlinks. This increases the chances of search engines discovering and indexing them. Be mindful of duplicate content issues by linking back to the original piece.
2. Build links to your backlinks
Yes, backlinks can have their own backlinks! This technique, known as tiered link building, involves creating additional links that point to the page where your primary backlink resides.
For example: If a prominent UK-based blog features your link, sharing this blog post on other forums or linking to it from your site can amplify its authority and indexing potential.
3. Monitor and resubmit
Keep track of your backlinks using tools like Ahrefs or SEMrush. If you notice a backlink hasn’t been indexed after a reasonable period, consider resubmitting the page to Google Search Console or revisiting its placement and context.
Common pitfalls to avoid
❌ Buying links: Purchasing backlinks is against Google’s guidelines and can lead to penalties.
❌ Relying on low-quality directories: Submitting your site to generic or irrelevant directories often results in low-value links that rarely get indexed.
❌ Overloading pages with links: If a page is saturated with links, crawlers may de-prioritise it.
Achieve backlink success with expert support
Navigating the complexities of backlink indexing and SEO requires expertise, especially in competitive markets like the UK.
Whether you need assistance with link building, content strategy, or SEO, Bulldog Digital Media has the tools and expertise to elevate your website’s performance.
You’ll never have to worry about indexing issues, ever again.
